We have three different opportunities to spread Aloha this holidays and it all benefits Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs!

Aloha for Hawaii Charities

Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs is excited to announce that it has again been approved as a participating charity with “Aloha for Hawaii Charities”, a program of “Friends of Hawaii Charities.” Every dollar donated for our benefit, through their program, between November 15, 2018 and January 15, 2019, will be paid to Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs …. plus Fi-Do will receive a partial match from them. The partial match, whatever the eventual amount, can add up to be substantial.

To donate to Hawaii Fi-Do under this program, all you need to do is click on the link

Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs held its 4th Dining with Dogs fundraiser at the beautiful Four Seasons resort at Ko Olina. Thanks to our donors, supporters, volunteers and friends who took part. We honored philanthropist and great friend Myrna Murdoch, and long-time trainer and Fi-Do stalwart Trudi Gold!

Reserve a seat or buy a table at our 4th annual Dining with Dogs fundraiser dinner! At Hawaii Fi-Do , we’ve been waiting to celebrate the Year of the Dog in a bigger way. This is our theme for our 4th annual fundraising dinner Dining with Dogs, which will be on Saturday, October 6th at the beautiful Four Seasons Resort O’ahu at Ko Olina!

Tickets are $150 ($65 tax deductible) and can be bought on our website or by check. Deadline to reserve a seat is September 28.

But, wait! THERE’S A BONUS! If you buy your tickets online, you’ll receive a 25% off discount code after you purchase your tickets. You can use this discount on any shirt or bag we sell in our online shop!

This year we will be honoring Myrna Murdoch, a real animal lover and very supportive philanthropist. The delightful Lara Yamada will be our emcee. We have some wonderful live auction items (such Las Vegas, Hawaiian Airlines miles, staycations, Dolphin Experiences), and will have high end drawings for some very nice packages of dinners, shopping, golf and adventure experiences. Entertaining us during the reception, which starts at 5:30PM, will be the talented Jeff Rasmussen, a Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner. We are planning an evening that will be very memorable!

This would make it a civil violation when one poses their pet as a service dog when it is not and make Hawaii one of the states that recognizes that people faking their pets as service dogs.

This is wonderful for the protection and respect of legitimate service dog teams. Now the real work must begin to help educate about what a service dog really is and understanding the real intention behind the ADA law that requires service dog access accommodations for those with disabilities.

This would not have been possible without the help of a lot of people! Sen. Ruderman, the bill sponsor. Rep. Nishimoto and Sen. Taniguchi who worked hard to come to a compromise in their Conference Committee. There were many other legislators and legislative aids who also helped behind the scenes.

But as importantly, there were all the service dog teams and puppy raisers who faithfully showed up for legislative committee hearings to voice and show their support. You wrote letters, sent emails and some of you were even able to testify before our legislature’s hearing committees. In a very real way, YOU helped make this happen!! Huge mahalos to all of you!!

Hawaii Fi-Do will Offer Free Informational Workshop as part of International Assistance Dog Week

To kick off International Assistance Dog Week (August 5-11), Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs will be having a free informational workshop on Saturday, August 4 at 11 a.m. at the center stage at Windward Mall.

The workshop's topics will include the differences between service dogs versus therapy dogs, what the new fake service dog Hawaii law is and the impact it can have on businesses, and what it means for those who abuse ADA access laws for service dogs. There will also be a demonstration on what service dogs can do and a Q&A from the audience. Numerous working teams and puppy raisers will be at the mall, handing out information on service dogs and the laws.

“With the passage of the new fake service dog law, this is a good opportunity to educate the public and businesses about the law and learn how real and certified service dogs can perform tasks for their owners with disabilities,” said Jim Kennedy, Hawaii Fi-Do executive director.

International Assistance Dog Week was created to recognize all the devoted, hardworking assistance dogs helping individuals mitigate their disability-related limitations. In addition to honoring assistance dogs during their special week, one of the goals is to raise awareness about these very special and highly-trained canines.

Assistance Dogs transform the lives of their human partners with debilitating physical and mental disabilities by serving as their devoted companion, helper, aide, best friend and close member of their family.

International Assistance Dog Week was established due to the efforts of Marcie Davis, a paraplegic for over 35 years and CEO of Davis Innovations, a consulting firm based in Santa Fe, NM. Davis is the author of Working Like Dogs: The Service Dog Guidebook, a resource book that captures personal stories, checklists and practical tips to provide the reader with an A-Z guide about service dogs and she is the host of the Internet radio program, Working Like Dogs, at www.petliferadio.com. As a member of a service dog team, she founded Working Like Dogs to honor assistance dogs around the world.

More information about International Assistance Dog week can be found at www.assistancedogweek.org.

Esther Ikemoto, 94, or “Popo” as she was lovingly called, cherished all creatures great and small and she wanted for her love of animals to continue for future generations. Her family wanted to fulfill their mother’s wishes so they created a legacy fund called "Popo Esther Love" at Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs, which has raised over $7,000.

“This legacy would perpetuate her selfless helping spirit. She loved to help others in little and big ways,” her daughter wrote. “When I saw [Hawaii Fi-Do’s] videos, I knew that my mom would be so happy to know that she was helping others. She would be too humble to think that she was changing lives. She would be content in knowing that she was simply making others happy.”

The Ikemoto family grew up with dogs. They had five rescue dogs: Rin Tin Tin, Trixie, Missy, Tanya, and Alvin. They ranged from mixed breed to poodles. Popo didn’t have dogs during her later years in life but cherished her children’s dogs.

One of the reasons her family chose Hawai’i Fi-Do to create their mother’s legacy fund is the community outreach we do through our READ program. One of Popo’s daughters is a teacher at Waikiki Elementary School and one of Hawaii Fi-Do’s teams was there, having kids read to our dogs. The other reason is that we do outreach to businesses and the public to educate people about legitimate service dogs.

“I believe that at the end of our lives, we all hope that our time on Earth has made the world a better place. My amazing mom made an incredible difference in the lives of everyone she met. She was full of grace, love, kindness, humor, and with just enough 'kolohe' to make every encounter you had with her zestfully memorable,” her daughter wrote. “It gives us great solace that my mom's loving selfless spirit is being perpetuated with "Popo Esther's Love" through your wonderful organization.”

Popo, your memory will always be remembered through every service dog we train and life they touch.

If you’re interested in honoring a family member or friend by creating a legacy fund, please contact us at info@hawaiifido.org.

Get your sneakers and forks ready! We are looking for hungry walkers to join our team at the 40th Hotel Industry Charity Walk in May on the Big Island and Oahu.

Walkers are treated to food, drink and fun at checkpoints along the walk route. All checkpoints are operated and supplied with refreshments and helpers by Hawai‘i hotels and allied organizations. Entertainment may also be provided at many checkpoints and/or at the end of the walk.

Those on Big Island who want to support Hawaii Fi-Do by either donating OR walking, click here:

We’re celebrating the new year with our Year of the Dog “Paws Up for Service” t-shirt! We are selling them for $25 in men’s (sizes M-XXL) and women’s (sizes S-XL) cut shirts.if you’ll like us to ship it, it’ll be $5 or free shipping for orders over $100. Please indicate what size and style you want. You can place your orders through our PayPal.

Honolulu-born, LA-based graphic designer Summer Shigetani created this design. She was inspired by the Maneki-neko, a Japanese figurine that “waves” in good luck!

Celebrate the Year of the Dog with us! You’ll have to wait another 12 years to celebrate again! All proceeds go to Hawaii Fi-Do.

We had our 3rd annual “Dining with Dogs” fundraiser dinner and auction on Friday, October 20th, at the beautiful Honolulu Country Club. This year we were very happy to celebrate “A Night of Stars,” honoring our Fi-Do Stars: our dogs, our puppy raisers, our trainers and our graduates.

Before checking out at Foodland or Sack N Save, support Hawaii Fi-Do by donating to Give Aloha, Foodland’s Annual Community Matching Gifts Program, during the entire month of September. Customers are invited to make donations using their Maika‘i Card. Foodland and the Western Union Foundation will match a portion of each donation.

simply follow these 3 steps:

1. Show your Maika‘i card at checkout.2. Give the participating organization’s 5-digit code number.3. Tell the cashier how much you’d like to donate, up to $249 per organization. The amount will be added to your grocery purchases.

Our five-digit registration code is 78117.

How To Help?

At checkout, present your Maika`i Card and inform the cashier that you would like to make a donation to our organization with our registration code. If you do not have a Maika‘i Card, you may request one. Your donation will be added to your grocery purchase total.

You may give up to $249 per organization (donations exceeding $249 will not be matched). The amount you have donated to us and the name of our organization will appear on your receipt. Any donation must be made payable to Foodland or Sack N Save. Donor names will not be released to our organization, so if you would like us to know of your gift, please contact us directly so that we may properly acknowledge your gift.

Are These Contributions Tax Deductible?

These contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Please save your store receipt for tax purposes since it will be the only record you will have of your donation.

How Matching Gifts Will Be Calculated?

Matching Gifts will be calculated after the end of the program. Organizations will receive 100 percent of all customer donations given to their organization, plus their percentage of Foodland's $325,000 matching gift. The portion of the matching gift that each organization will receive will be based on the total dollar amount of customer donations designated to that organization as a percentage of all customer donations received for all organizations.